Window washing and wiping device



WINDOW WASHING AND WIPING DEVICE Filed July 18, 1950 nl Z0 l 1,1 A aff 132 A U Q U ifd- 26 Zo 40 I n l o 5 7 @y INVENToR: L57/ 'A65 v 5 y ,I JQ/ccrd (6556725 Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

'My invention relates to hand-operated devices employed for washing windows, and more particularly to that class of devices which are applicable to the outer side of the inner sash when the same is raised in order to wash such outer side.

It is a comparatively easy matter, when the inner sash of a window has been raised, to reach the outer side of the outer sash with a suitable implement to wash or clean `the same, as the approach toV such outer side is clear. However, when the outer 'side of the inner sash has to be treated after such sash has been partly raised, a device thin enough to be passed between the sa'shes must be had, and such devices of this character as have come to my attention have either been too involved, unhandy or unreliable.

My improvement deals especially with a feau ture to introduce a washing or wiping element in a position for easy passage between the sashes, and operate the device in a manner to tilt such element in the direction of the window pane for facility of application, and one object is to provide a device of this kind which is of a highly compact nature for the passage referred to, yet

shank and compact headpiece for facilitating its passage between the window sashes, and to t the headpiece with a novel gearing to procure the -tilting action.

Another object is to provide a control at the lower end of the device which need be rotated only a quarter turn to procure the tilting action of the washing or wiping element.

An additional object is to construct the device with a minimum amount of weight consistent with sufficient strength and stiffness to maintain its shape, and with close assembling tolerances in order to seal its internal operating parts against dust or foreign matter.

-An important object is to use a minimum number of parts consistent with a high `degree of structural and functional eiciency inthe novel device.

With the above objects in View, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is an elevation of a typical house window vasseen from the inner side, showing the application of the novel washing device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the upper portion of the device, partly broken away andshowing a sponge-type applicator;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 'sf-3 of Fig; 2;

Fig. 4 is a section of a squeegee-type applicator adapted to replace the sponge-type applicator of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the lower part ofthe device, partly in section;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of-Fig.5; Fig. 7 is a section on the line l-i of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a handle portion appearing in the. center of Fig. 5.

In accordance with the foregoing, speciiic reference to the drawing indicates the frame li! of a typical house window, H the inner sash and I2 the outer sash thereof. As seen in lFig.- 1, the novel device is introduced-after the inner sash has been raised-to pass with its upper portion through the space between the sashes for application to the outer side of the innersash. To facilitate the passage of the' vdevice as stated, its upper portion is Vmade intol a headpiece l5 of T-forrn; and the neckA it of the headpieceis attached by means of pins Il to the upperend portion oi the shank i3 of the device. 'Such shank is preferably of double-ply sheet metalin thin or flat form andY having a suitable amount of strength or stiiness, so that the shank will 'not bend or flex during ordinary useor handling.

The headpiece. i5 is fitted' atthe top with an elongated frame"2ll, the latter being secured to the headpiece by screws` 22; The ends 2d. of the frame serve as bearings for the terminal trunnions 26 of a trough-like holdertfi.` The latter forms Va seat for the similarly shaped base 32. of a sponge-like washing elementtt orsqueegee 34. The base 32' has transversely projecting studs 35 and 35 near the ends;v andthe holder 3U has undercut slots 38 into which the studs 35 may be backed when the corresponding .end of the element 33- is inserted into the holderr. At such time a pair loi slots lie made nearpthe opposite end of the holder will be in-a position to receive the studs 36 while'the cleaning ele ment base 32 fits into the holder Bil with friction when the base of the element 33 is tted into the holder. The element 33 is thus removably .attached to the device for the washing function; and it can be removed by drawing on outward ilanges 32a of the holder 32 and replaced by the squeegee element 3d when the wiping function is to be instituted -l Y E;

The normal position ofthe elements `33` and 34 is extended, as in Figs. 2, 3 and 4; and the thickness of those elements is made less than the width of the space between the window sashes, so that the device may be passed with its upper portion through such space to a posi-- tion such as shown in Fig. l. When this position has been attained, the handle 45 at the lower end of the device is designed to be given a partial turn Awith the effect of rotating or tilting the element 33 or 34 toa position at right angles with the shank I8 of the device. Thus, when the tilt is toward the outer side of the inner sash, the element 33 or 34 is positioned for frictional engagement with thewindowp'aneto accomplish the washing or wiping of the same.

As noted in Fig. 5, the handle 45 receives the lower end of a shaft 50 whichlrisesf-through a tubular stem 5I secured by rivets 52 to the lower end of the shank I8, the shaft rising freely through the stem 5I and between the walls of the shankandl across-pini 55 Vpassing through the lower! end-'portionof'the shaft .andi thev handle 45 serves to connectlthese'parts forijointrotation.

LFig. 2shows thatthe. shaft50. rises into.. the

lneckf I6A of the headpiece I5 to' terminate with a horizontal spur gear 58 located in a pocket 59 in the'v center of the headpiece. The pocket 59 has a top enlargement 60 in a longitudinal direction seating a bar 62v of squarecross-section- Fig. '7 shows that this bar has=an intermediate circular enlargement 63 which serves to journal a spur Vgear- 64 madev` with alateralV gear. segment 85 which is in mesh withlthespur gear 58. The jspur-gearf64 risesHthroughasl-ot 8S inthe frame '20-to1fmeshlwith.a.part-circular. spur gear 68 which-is weldedor otherwise'rigidly 'secured in a 'ca'v'ity 68 'made in the, floorlof theliolder 38. AThu`s,--turning the-handlel45 in relation tothe lsegmentif, gear. 64l and gear:68=to.rotate the --wholderfi on the trunnions 25 and procure` the `tilt-"ofthe washing or wiping element'previously Sreferredto. Itrisiof course an easy matter to operate the handle 45 with one hand while the g shank I8 is held with` therother.

Eig. 8'shows that-the upper end of the handle'45 Y hasza` cavity 10.' whose. ends form limits relative toa' side pin 'I2 projecting from the tubular stem 5I when` the handle-is turned. When the turn islinal 'direction to-tilt theV washing. or wiping element as previously described, itis,desirable to lock theV elementI against returnV actionV as the device isfpulled downwardly with pressure on the f washing or wiping element'. Fig. 8 shows a spring "I`3-- secured with one end to the handle 45 and formed with a hook'14-atfthe other end seating -and'locked by the pin 'I2 -inthe advanced position. The hook 'I4 has a stem 'I5 whichfmayv be raised vtov clear the pin when the handle i'sturned in the returning direction, as per arrow. When the handle is' again operated to procure the tilt of the washing or` wiping element, the spring will `trip thepin `and reset'itself to lock the handle from the returning movement.

It will now lie-apparent that the novel device has a number of advantageous features. First, it is` narrow enough when its washing or wiping lelement is in the normal or extended position to fit between the sashes of any conventional.

vor house window in order to locate'the washing or wiping element in thev zone of. application. Further, the gearing is designed to obtain the tilt of the washing or wipingv element to a right -angle merely by `imparting aouarter-turn to the handle. Further, the headpiece is made with a holder in which the sponge washing element is quickly interchangeable with the squeegee wiping element and vice versa. Further, the device is of a nature to be made of stainless steel or aluminum in order to prevent rust or corrosion. Finally, the device has its mechanism fully enclosed and designed with ne limits or tolerances in order to protect the mechanism from dust, foreign matter.' or damage; andito combine its efhcient operation with compactness,

,making the device neat in appearance and easy to handle.

While. I. have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from-` its` principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A.window cleaning implement. comprising a.y substantially T-shaped member. receiving` a handleat its lower.end,.a.holder journaled vin the heady of the member tobe rockablein aplane transverse of said head, a window cleaning element carried by the holder and normally projected therefrom in a direction opposite from the shank of the member,.and meansoperated by the rotation of the handle to rock the holdervv and tilt said element to a positionat an angle to the shank for edgewise application to.the window, the. shank .havinga longitudinal bore, and said means comprisingV a shaft connected to the handle at one end and passing through. said bore to terminate with. itsA other-end ina cavity made. in. the headpiece,. a; spur gear. carried:by said. other lenf1,.a second spur gear journaled inthehead at right angles tothe rst spurl gear,

.a v'third spur gear. carried by said holderA and in mesh with the. second yspur gear, and. af, gear projecting from the face of the second spur gear in meshing relation with the rst spur. gear.

2. A window cleaning implementcomprising a substantially T-shaped member receiving a-handle at its lower end, a holder journaled .inY the head of the member to.be. rockable in a plane transverse of said head, a window cleaning element carried by the holder'and normally projected therefrom in a directionv opposite, from the. shank of the member, .and means operated by the rotationof. the handletorock the;holder and tilt said element to a positionA at. an angle to the. shank for. edgewise. application ,to4 the window, the. shank having a longitudinal. bore, and said means, comprising a shaft. connected to the handle. at one endv and passing through said. bore to terminate with its other end in a cavity made. in the head, a, spur gearv carried by saidy other end, a second spur gear journaled in the head at rightangles to the iirst spur gear, a third spur gear carried by saidy holder and in mesh with thev secondV spur gear.and agear projecting from the faceof the secondspur gear in meshing relation with. the rstfspur gear, the journal of the second spur gean comprisinga bar lodged in the head in a longitudinaledirection and crossing said cavity, such bar being in non-rotatable relation with thehead andhaving a circularv portion inthe region-of.. the=second spur gear, and the.latter being bored for rotation a substantially T-shaped member receivingV a the head of the member to be rockable in a plane transverse of said head, a window cleaning element carried by the holder and normally projected therefrom in a direction opposite from the shank of the member, and means operated by the rotation of the handle to rook the holder and tilt said element to a position at an angle to the shank for edgewise application to the Window, the shank having a longitudinal bore, and said means comprising a shaft connected to the handle at one end and passing through said bore to terminate with its other end in a cavity made in the head, a spur gear carried by said other end, a second spur gear journaled in the head at right angles to the rst spur gear, a third spur gear carried by said holder, and in mesh with the second spur gear, and a gear projecting from the face of the second spur gear in meshing relation with the rst spur gear, the journal of the second spur gear comprising a bar lodged in the head in a longitudinal direction and crossing said cavity, such bar being of square cross-section to be nonrotatable relative to the head and having a circular portion in the region of the second spur gear, and the latter being bored for rotation on said circular portion.

4. 'A window cleaning implement comprising a substantially T-shaped member receiving a handle at its lower end, a holder journaled in the head of the member to be rockable in a plane4 transverse of said head, a window cleaning element carried by the holder and normally projected therefrom in a direction opposite from the shank of the member, and means operated by the rotation of the handle to rock the holder and tilt said element to a position at an angle to the shank for edgewise application to the Window, the holder being of longitudinal trough form. and said element having a base of similar form designed to removably nt into the holder, the latter having undercut slots in its edges near one end, pins carried by the base and designed to enter said slots on the tting of the related end of the base into the holder, transverse slots in the edges of the holder near the other end, and other pins carried by the base in the regions of the transverse slots and designed to fit into the same on the application of the corresponding end of the base to the holder.

5. A window cleaning implement comprising a substantially T-shaped member receiving a handle at its lower end, a holder journaied in the head of the member to be rockable in a plane transverse of said head, a window cleaning element carried by the holder and normally projected therefrom in a direction opposite from the shank of the member, and means operated by the rotation of the handle to rock the holder and tilt said element to a position at an angle to the shank for edgewise application to the window, the holder being of longitudinal trough form, and said element having a base of similar form designed to removably t into the holder, the latter having undercut slots in its edges near one end, pins carried by the base and designed to enter said slots on the fitting of the related end of the base into the holder, transverse slots in the edges of the holder near the other end, and other pins carried by the base in the regions of the transverse slots and designed to nt into the same on the application of the corresponding end of the base to the holder, the latter being tensionable by the iitting of the base to grip the same as the base is fitted therein.

' EDWARD W. COLLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 701,507 Richardson June 3, 1902 1,139,736 Stabel May 18, 1915 2,348,972 Gray May 16, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 62,756 Norway Apr. 4, 1938 

